Central Business District in New Orleans in Orleans Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

Canal Street Milestones

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 31, 2026

1. Canal Street Milestones Marker

Inscription.

Canal Street Milestones. . 1718 French colonization , 1718 The founding of the city by Bienville , 1721 First plan of New Orleans , 1726 Purchase of a portion of Bienville's sugar plantion by the Jesuits. Later to become the Central Business District, the Faubourg St. Mary. , 1763 Spanish rule, Louisiana ceded to Spain after the defeat of the French in the French and Indian war. , 1788 The great fire nearly destroys the entire Vieux Carre. The Jesuit plantation is subdivided to allow further expansion upriver. , 1800 Louisiana ceded back to France by secret treaty. , 1803 Louisiana Purchase by United States from France. , 1807 Act of Congress confirming city's claim to common ground, thence forth to be known as Canal Street. , 1815 Plan by Jacques Tanese showing Canal Street with a double row of of trees along each side of a proposed canal. , 1820's Gas lights replace whale oil lanterns, decorative ironwork galleries and verandahs grace the facades on Canal Street. , 1840's The realization of Canal Street as an important commercial street. D.H. Holmes Building constructed. , 1850's Judah Touro constructs first modern retail block and leaves a legacy for Canal Street beautification consisting of trees, bollards with chains, and a riverside park. , 1861 Tracks for horsecars laid in the neutral ground. , 1861 Civil War, all building halted. , 1880's Electrification of Canal Street, electric trolleys replace horsecars. , 1906 Construction of the first Maison Blanche building. , 1922 Construction of the present Maison Blanche building. , 1930 Beautification program including terrazzo sidewalks, demolition of ironwork galleries, and existing iron light standards installed. , 1957 Canal St. beautification under Mayor "Chep" Morrison. , 1964 Trolleys removed from canal street. City buses use former trolley lanes. , 1977 Canal Street improvement project with the planting of trees along both sides of the neutral ground, stone paving and bollards with chains, recalling to this historic street Judah Touro's legacy, 127 years later. ,

1718 French colonization
1718 The founding of the city by Bienville
1721 First plan of New Orleans
1726 Purchase of a portion of Bienville's sugar plantion by the Jesuits. Later to become the Central Business District, the Faubourg St. Mary.
1763 Spanish rule, Louisiana ceded to Spain after the defeat of the French in the French and Indian war.
1788 The great fire nearly destroys the entire Vieux Carre. The Jesuit plantation is subdivided to allow further expansion upriver.
1800 Louisiana ceded back to France by secret treaty.
1803 Louisiana Purchase by United States from France.
1807 Act of Congress confirming city's claim to common ground—thence forth to be known as Canal Street.
1815 Plan by Jacques Tanese showing Canal Street with a double row of of trees along each side of a proposed canal.
1820's Gas lights replace whale oil lanterns, decorative ironwork galleries and verandahs grace the facades on Canal Street.
1840's The realization of Canal Street as an important commercial street. D.H. Holmes Building constructed.
1850's Judah Touro constructs first modern retail block and leaves a legacy for Canal Street beautification consisting of trees, bollards with chains, and a riverside park.
1861 Tracks for horsecars laid in the neutral ground.
1861 Civil War, all

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building halted.
1880's Electrification of Canal Street, electric trolleys replace horsecars.
1906 Construction of the first Maison Blanche building.
1922 Construction of the present Maison Blanche building.
1930 Beautification program including terrazzo sidewalks, demolition of ironwork galleries, and existing iron light standards installed.
1957 Canal St. beautification under Mayor "Chep" Morrison.
1964 Trolleys removed from canal street. City buses use former trolley lanes.
1977 Canal Street improvement project with the planting of trees along both sides of the neutral ground, stone paving and bollards with chains, recalling to this historic street Judah Touro's legacy, 127 years later.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers • War, French and Indian. A significant historical year for this entry is 1718.

Location. 29° 57.25′ N, 90° 4.254′ W. Marker is in New Orleans, Louisiana, in Orleans Parish. It is in the Central Business District. It is at the intersection of Canal Street and Baronne Street, on the right when traveling east on Canal Street. The marker is embedded into the sidewalk, near Voodoo Chicken & Daiquiris. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 838 Canal Street, New Orleans LA 70112, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Louisiana’s River Parishes.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

on the Gulf Coast,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 31, 2026

2. Canal Street Milestones Marker

At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Canal Street Under the Americans (1803) (within shouting distance of this marker); Canal Street Under French and Spanish Rule (1718-1803) (within shouting distance of this marker); Immaculate Conception Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 127-129 Carondelet Street (about 400 feet away); New Orleans Slave Depot (about 500 feet away); New Orleans Massacre Of 1866 (about 500 feet away); Sears Building (about 600 feet away); Shell Building (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Orleans.

Canal Street 1903 image. Click for full size.

Photo by John Norris Teunisson (via Wikimedia Commons), 1903

3. Canal Street 1903

The street cars added in the 1880s are seen cutting through Canal Street.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 7, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on April 7, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2, 3. submitted on April 8, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.